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Soccer IQ: Things That Smart Players Do, Vol. 1
An Amazon #1 Best-Seller! Named the #1 Soccer Book by Football.com. Named a Top 5 Book of the Year by the NSCAA Soccer Journal! Soccer iQ is the first book for soccer PLAYERS! In a world saturated with books about how to coach soccer, Dan Blank finally gives players a book on how to think it. Standing on two decades of collegiate coaching experience, Blank has catalogued soccer's most common mistakes and provides simple, connect-the-dots solutions to help players solve their soccer problems. Soccer IQ is soccer's first text book for players; an almanac of smarter soccer decisions intended to flatten out the learning curve. It covers everything from hunting rebounds to the value of the toe-ball; from playing in the rain to the world's dumbest foul. Blank tells his story from the familiar and humorous voice of a coach who has endured years of stress at the hands of his players. Written in plain-spoken language, Soccer IQ is an easy read and a quick-fix to the most common yet critically important soccer problems. Includes a bonus chapter on the college recruiting process. "Finally someone wrote this book! If every soccer player read Soccer IQ, every coach would be a lot happier." Mark Francis - Head Coach University of Kansas "Dan Blank has just written soccer's first definitive text book." Colin Carmichael - Head Coach Oklahoma State University "This book has immediately become required reading for my team. I'll take 30 copies." Steve Nugent - Head Coach UNC-Greensboro "Soccer IQ may the best practical soccer book I have ever read. There's no fluff. Just nuts and bolts principles that we teach every day. It'll solve a lot of your soccer problems." Steve Holeman - Head Coach University of Georgia
133 pages, Paperback
First published June 5, 2012
391 people are currently reading
967 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
April 6, 2017
Written for the player, but equally useful for the coach, this book provides a nice overview of common sense tips to improve your game. The target audience is a strong teen player into the college ranks. There is no theory here, it's all direct practical advice which is focused overall in instilling good habits and encouraging players to think more completely about the game.
Some topics off the top of my head include:
- the importance of hunting rebounds
- awareness of correct passing angles
- receiving the ball, and passing the ball, to the proper foot
- creating 2 v 1 situations in the attacking 3rd
- avoiding impossible passes
- overall importance of speed of play
- advice to forwards on using their runs to demonstrate where they want the ball played
- change in approach due to inclement weather
Most topics are covered in 200 - 400 words, followed by a brief note to coaches on that topic and in some cases, a description/diagram of a relevant training exercise.
I'm coaching at the youth level, and much of this is too advanced to be directly applied. However I find it useful to have some of these concepts in mind as I design training exercises and assess my team and players. A very basic concept from this book which has helped the kids I work with is when the ball goes out of touch, to quickly grab it and hold it over your head as you look for a target on the throw in. This is opposed to holding the ball at your stomach/chest as you look. With the ball over your head to start with, you can immediately make the throw when you see a good option. Simple advice, which is correct and helpful but if you're not teaching it the kids are likely not doing that on their own.
This book is now on my bedside table and I am revisiting it as a new season is underway. It's easy to review and you can always find a note or two which your team will benefit from in that moment.
Some topics off the top of my head include:
- the importance of hunting rebounds
- awareness of correct passing angles
- receiving the ball, and passing the ball, to the proper foot
- creating 2 v 1 situations in the attacking 3rd
- avoiding impossible passes
- overall importance of speed of play
- advice to forwards on using their runs to demonstrate where they want the ball played
- change in approach due to inclement weather
Most topics are covered in 200 - 400 words, followed by a brief note to coaches on that topic and in some cases, a description/diagram of a relevant training exercise.
I'm coaching at the youth level, and much of this is too advanced to be directly applied. However I find it useful to have some of these concepts in mind as I design training exercises and assess my team and players. A very basic concept from this book which has helped the kids I work with is when the ball goes out of touch, to quickly grab it and hold it over your head as you look for a target on the throw in. This is opposed to holding the ball at your stomach/chest as you look. With the ball over your head to start with, you can immediately make the throw when you see a good option. Simple advice, which is correct and helpful but if you're not teaching it the kids are likely not doing that on their own.
This book is now on my bedside table and I am revisiting it as a new season is underway. It's easy to review and you can always find a note or two which your team will benefit from in that moment.
December 2, 2024
Excellent book. As a player and coach, the information in here is superb. The chapters are shorter (which is good as it doesn’t need to be lengthy) but the wisdom in here includes knowledge that took me years to learn as a player/coach. You can obviously see the authors expertise shine in the examples he uses and in his trial and errors over the years. Planning to read more of his books after this one. I would recommend this a must read for all players/coaches. Highly recommend!
September 1, 2025
Excellent and correct. It’s that simple.
January 29, 2022
Ngl this helped me get slightly better at FIFA lol.
“I am amazed at how many players play the game as if they were NFL running backs, receiving the ball and running forward with it until they get tackled. I’ll never understand why a player would voluntarily concede that cushion between her and the defender. That cushion is your time. It is your time to make a good decision and to execute technique under a minimal amount of pressure. Why would you willingly surrender that?”
“When it comes to what we value on the field, nothing ranks higher than speed of play. The ability to move the ball faster than the opposition can run and organize itself is the surest way to carve up the opponent. Moving the ball quickly depends on the player receiving the ball making quick decisions.”
“Even if the defense is organized enough to quickly determine that it should be the center back confronting the dribbler, interior seams open between her and her teammates. Those other defenders must figure out how to close those seams while keeping track of any runners making slashing runs in advance of the ball. Committing the center back is like forcing your opponent to move her king in a chess match – every other piece has to start making adjustments.”
“You need to understand the damage you do to your team when you take unrealistic shots. You need to understand how it affects the big picture. You can’t expect to win if you’re continually donating the ball to your opponent when you have her on the ropes”
“there is no faster speed of play than one-touch passing”
“I am amazed at how many players play the game as if they were NFL running backs, receiving the ball and running forward with it until they get tackled. I’ll never understand why a player would voluntarily concede that cushion between her and the defender. That cushion is your time. It is your time to make a good decision and to execute technique under a minimal amount of pressure. Why would you willingly surrender that?”
“When it comes to what we value on the field, nothing ranks higher than speed of play. The ability to move the ball faster than the opposition can run and organize itself is the surest way to carve up the opponent. Moving the ball quickly depends on the player receiving the ball making quick decisions.”
“Even if the defense is organized enough to quickly determine that it should be the center back confronting the dribbler, interior seams open between her and her teammates. Those other defenders must figure out how to close those seams while keeping track of any runners making slashing runs in advance of the ball. Committing the center back is like forcing your opponent to move her king in a chess match – every other piece has to start making adjustments.”
“You need to understand the damage you do to your team when you take unrealistic shots. You need to understand how it affects the big picture. You can’t expect to win if you’re continually donating the ball to your opponent when you have her on the ropes”
“there is no faster speed of play than one-touch passing”
October 11, 2023
Quick and well explained ideas through short stories. Overall a practical guide for important points like moving into seams, playing simple, thinking ahead, quick play, letting the ball work and ways to disrupt defence.
You’ll gain some insight even if you know half out it and it is well written with good humour.
You’ll gain some insight even if you know half out it and it is well written with good humour.
August 28, 2023
Great book for new (and experienced) soccer coaches. A little advanced for youth soccer, but the topics that weren't too advanced made the book entirely worthwhile.
January 20, 2024
I read this quickly as all soccer people tend to talk it up and I'm looking for ideas for coaching my son's U9 team. I also recently completed my first soccer coaching certification, so I'm looking for activities I can run during practice that fit my team's needs as well as the philosophy laid out by US Soccer. This is a challenge let me tell you because most of my team have never played before but the expectations from my course were that these boys already would know soccer.
This book was definitely not written for my team. There are hardly any drills laid out in it. That said, I really like the way he thinks soccer and I'd love to have a chat with him. What I did glean I think is great. I just wish there were more. (I do have volume two so I'll try that next.)
It's funny. I have several other soccer coaching books I've accumulated over the years, and they are almost completely worthless according to current US Soccer coaching philosophy, which is all about "game-like activities." The other books I have offer tons of drills to work on individual soccer skills, but those are pretty much not allowed according to the course I just finished.
This one at least didn't go against that, but it didn't offer a lot of directly relevant ideas for my team. I guess maybe I need to write a book!
This book was definitely not written for my team. There are hardly any drills laid out in it. That said, I really like the way he thinks soccer and I'd love to have a chat with him. What I did glean I think is great. I just wish there were more. (I do have volume two so I'll try that next.)
It's funny. I have several other soccer coaching books I've accumulated over the years, and they are almost completely worthless according to current US Soccer coaching philosophy, which is all about "game-like activities." The other books I have offer tons of drills to work on individual soccer skills, but those are pretty much not allowed according to the course I just finished.
This one at least didn't go against that, but it didn't offer a lot of directly relevant ideas for my team. I guess maybe I need to write a book!
February 15, 2021
This is a decent little soccer book which is told from the American female soccer teams’ perspective. It gives lots of fairly decent hints and tips on how to behave and execute certain aspects which are more nuanced in the professional football game. Having played football at a very bad level for a lot of years I recognize some of these but there was also some very new interesting findings in this book . Anyway here are some of the best bits:
I'll never understand why a player would voluntarily concede that cushion between her and the defender. That cushion is your time and your space. It is your time to make a good decision and to execute technique under a minimal amount of pressure. Why would you willingly surrender that space? This is all about ensuring that your first touch is clean and keeps close to you rather than bouncing off you 3 / four yards more than intended.
Don't bounce it your teammate if you can just as easily keep the ball on the ground. Don't smash at her abdomen when you can pass it to her feet. And don't pass it to her right foot if she needs it to her left foot. Let me give you one other piece of advice about these passes: when that ball comes off your foot until it arrives at your teammate: it is your responsibility.
There are going to be times when you will need to play a pass along a very tight angle. If you pass it on the ground the defender will stick a toe out and deflect away the ball. In these situations lift your pass about 12 inches off the ground. A smart player is constantly asking herself: what if? And what's next? What if the ball comes to me? What's next when I get it? What if we give the ball back to them? What if they give the ball back to us? What's next? And she's always asking : what's behind me?
The smart player is proactive and runs to the place where she wants the ball delivered. She may want it at her feet: she may want it in the space behind the defense: she may want it wider up the middle. But no matter where she wants it her running communicates her desires to her teammate on the ball.
Some of the best soccer advice I ever got was this: two runs. One run for the defenders benefit and one for yourself. That means that once you determine where you want the ball take your first two or three steps in the opposite direction. Wanted at your feet then first check away. Want it behind the defense then come back to the ball 1st and then spin round. Decoy decoy docoy.
Don't turn into pressure: but if you watch a game that has been videotaped from a high angle, like the top of the bleachers, you begin to see how many options are actually available to you if you just stay calm. Soccer is a 360 sport. Plays aren't obliged to go forward like they are in many other sports. You have a whole 360 worth of options and a single opponent can only count for so many of those degrees. Every player on our roster is expected to have the composure and technical competence to escape pressure and keep the ball from a single opponent. We can't win games if our players lose these individual battles.
Quick restarts: in an average soccer game when you include throwins, there are upwards to 60 restarts. And if you're paying attention and prepared to play quickly, you can take advantage of many of them. You won't often hit the lottery but if you pay attention there are opportunities to capitalize on.
Read her eyes: almost every player looks at the ball as they're about to strike it. It's where that player looks just before her head goes down that is the key. Most players will take their last look at the place where they intend to pass the ball. And if you watch their eyes and make the physical adjustment you'll find often yourself in the right place at the right time to intercept that pass. Some goalkeepers when faced with a penalty kick will also employ this tactic. They will watch the shooter's eyes and the last place the shooter looks before approaching the ball is the direction that the goalkeeper will guess.
Fix your radar: or you can just trust me and remember this piece of advice: when you are dribbling and have a gaping space in front of the back 4, angle your dribble straight at the heart goal. Good things will happen. Don't just Sprint directly down the line go for the heart of the goal.
Mismatches on goal kicks and corner kicks: dear goalkeepers. I'll say this as plainly as I possibly can. If your kicks kept getting shoved back down your team's throat because one player on the other team is dominating in the air stop aiming at them. For heaven sake figure it out and make the adjustment. One of the best headers on any team is the defensive center midfielder and he's normally the one who will be challenging for your kicks. If he is single handedly destroying your team in the air then stop giving him that opportunity. Just aim down the wings.
Playing against the killer wind: when faced with a headwind that is strong your first priority is to shorten the half. If you're playing 90 minute game the opponent has the wind at her back and a significant advantage for 45 minutes. Every minute of time you can bleed off that Clock is 1 less minute your opponent has to score.
Instead of sitting back to defend we pushed our line of defenders as high as we could and held it out there. Our goal was to prevent your opponent from playing underneath us. We took away the ability to play into the feet of their forwards and force them to play balls over the top of us.
Playing in the rain: wet fields are also excellent manufacturers of rebounds. The ball is wet and difficult for a goalkeeper to hold onto particularly if it skips in him with pace. It is critically important that attackers put their shots on frame. On a wet field the first shot will often produce a second shot.
The third red card conundrum: if the referee has just ejected a player from the opposing team you've got to watch your step. At that point you should assume a normal foul is a yellow card and a yellow card will automatically be a red foul. The referee will be looking for the slightest opportunity to give your team a red card if he feels that he is given the other team A red card. It's just human nature and the way referees are.
I'll never understand why a player would voluntarily concede that cushion between her and the defender. That cushion is your time and your space. It is your time to make a good decision and to execute technique under a minimal amount of pressure. Why would you willingly surrender that space? This is all about ensuring that your first touch is clean and keeps close to you rather than bouncing off you 3 / four yards more than intended.
Don't bounce it your teammate if you can just as easily keep the ball on the ground. Don't smash at her abdomen when you can pass it to her feet. And don't pass it to her right foot if she needs it to her left foot. Let me give you one other piece of advice about these passes: when that ball comes off your foot until it arrives at your teammate: it is your responsibility.
There are going to be times when you will need to play a pass along a very tight angle. If you pass it on the ground the defender will stick a toe out and deflect away the ball. In these situations lift your pass about 12 inches off the ground. A smart player is constantly asking herself: what if? And what's next? What if the ball comes to me? What's next when I get it? What if we give the ball back to them? What if they give the ball back to us? What's next? And she's always asking : what's behind me?
The smart player is proactive and runs to the place where she wants the ball delivered. She may want it at her feet: she may want it in the space behind the defense: she may want it wider up the middle. But no matter where she wants it her running communicates her desires to her teammate on the ball.
Some of the best soccer advice I ever got was this: two runs. One run for the defenders benefit and one for yourself. That means that once you determine where you want the ball take your first two or three steps in the opposite direction. Wanted at your feet then first check away. Want it behind the defense then come back to the ball 1st and then spin round. Decoy decoy docoy.
Don't turn into pressure: but if you watch a game that has been videotaped from a high angle, like the top of the bleachers, you begin to see how many options are actually available to you if you just stay calm. Soccer is a 360 sport. Plays aren't obliged to go forward like they are in many other sports. You have a whole 360 worth of options and a single opponent can only count for so many of those degrees. Every player on our roster is expected to have the composure and technical competence to escape pressure and keep the ball from a single opponent. We can't win games if our players lose these individual battles.
Quick restarts: in an average soccer game when you include throwins, there are upwards to 60 restarts. And if you're paying attention and prepared to play quickly, you can take advantage of many of them. You won't often hit the lottery but if you pay attention there are opportunities to capitalize on.
Read her eyes: almost every player looks at the ball as they're about to strike it. It's where that player looks just before her head goes down that is the key. Most players will take their last look at the place where they intend to pass the ball. And if you watch their eyes and make the physical adjustment you'll find often yourself in the right place at the right time to intercept that pass. Some goalkeepers when faced with a penalty kick will also employ this tactic. They will watch the shooter's eyes and the last place the shooter looks before approaching the ball is the direction that the goalkeeper will guess.
Fix your radar: or you can just trust me and remember this piece of advice: when you are dribbling and have a gaping space in front of the back 4, angle your dribble straight at the heart goal. Good things will happen. Don't just Sprint directly down the line go for the heart of the goal.
Mismatches on goal kicks and corner kicks: dear goalkeepers. I'll say this as plainly as I possibly can. If your kicks kept getting shoved back down your team's throat because one player on the other team is dominating in the air stop aiming at them. For heaven sake figure it out and make the adjustment. One of the best headers on any team is the defensive center midfielder and he's normally the one who will be challenging for your kicks. If he is single handedly destroying your team in the air then stop giving him that opportunity. Just aim down the wings.
Playing against the killer wind: when faced with a headwind that is strong your first priority is to shorten the half. If you're playing 90 minute game the opponent has the wind at her back and a significant advantage for 45 minutes. Every minute of time you can bleed off that Clock is 1 less minute your opponent has to score.
Instead of sitting back to defend we pushed our line of defenders as high as we could and held it out there. Our goal was to prevent your opponent from playing underneath us. We took away the ability to play into the feet of their forwards and force them to play balls over the top of us.
Playing in the rain: wet fields are also excellent manufacturers of rebounds. The ball is wet and difficult for a goalkeeper to hold onto particularly if it skips in him with pace. It is critically important that attackers put their shots on frame. On a wet field the first shot will often produce a second shot.
The third red card conundrum: if the referee has just ejected a player from the opposing team you've got to watch your step. At that point you should assume a normal foul is a yellow card and a yellow card will automatically be a red foul. The referee will be looking for the slightest opportunity to give your team a red card if he feels that he is given the other team A red card. It's just human nature and the way referees are.
May 21, 2016
A wonderful reference book for players and coaches alike, this covers numerous aspects of the tactical and technical game that would improve anyone's game. As Coach Blank addresses, a player only has a ball at their feet for about 4% of a typical soccer game, yet we tend to emphasize that aspect a majority of the time in training. It's what players do without the ball that takes the game to the next level. This book is a great primer into that. While the book begs for some better organization and parts (winning at all costs) are designed for collegiate and higher levels, the chapters are brief, understandable and have an enjoyable voice. I'll be getting extra copies for my players this season and will surely use it for my own reference in putting together training sessions for my team.
January 22, 2026
Dan Blank's Soccer IQ: Things That Smart Players Do is an excellent guide for soccer players who want to get better by thinking smarter on the field. The book focuses on improving your mental game, not just your physical skills. He teaches players how to read the game, make fast decisions, and be aware of what is happening around them at all times.
One of the main ideas in the book is that speed of play is essential. This doesn’t just mean running fast but also making decisions and moving the ball quickly so your team can control the game and take advantage of opponents’ mistakes. Blank explains that moving balls faster than running helps players create scoring opportunities and keep the team in control.
Another key concept is passing and receiving. The book shows how to pass to your teammate’s most open foot and how to anticipate what your teammate needs. Players learn to communicate clearly, use smart positioning, and understand when to make a pass or take a shot. These skills help players keep possession and create more chances to score.
Blank also talks about soccer IQ itself, which is about being aware, planning ahead, and reading the game before the ball even comes to you. Smart players constantly ask themselves questions like, “What if the ball goes here?” or “What will my teammate do next?” This awareness allows players to react faster and make better choices under pressure.
The book covers deception, movement, and defense too. For attackers, it explains how to use runs and fakes to confuse defenders. For defenders, it emphasizes positioning, anticipation, and forcing mistakes. Blank also includes tips for handling set pieces, different field conditions, and game situations, helping players adapt to challenges like bad weather or tricky opponents.
One of the best parts of Soccer IQ is that it’s written in a clear, friendly way. Each chapter is short and easy to understand, with practical advice that players and coaches can apply immediately. There are also notes for parents and coaches so everyone involved can help players develop their skills.
Overall, this book is great for teen soccer players who want to improve their game by being smart, not just strong or fast. It’s easy to read, has many useful tips, and helps players think like professional soccer players. If you want to become a better teammate and make better decisions during games, Soccer IQ is the perfect guide to follow.
I could write a whole lot more on this, but I'll keep it somewhat short for you guys. Also, you guys should like my reviews because I spend at least 30 minutes on each one.
One of the main ideas in the book is that speed of play is essential. This doesn’t just mean running fast but also making decisions and moving the ball quickly so your team can control the game and take advantage of opponents’ mistakes. Blank explains that moving balls faster than running helps players create scoring opportunities and keep the team in control.
Another key concept is passing and receiving. The book shows how to pass to your teammate’s most open foot and how to anticipate what your teammate needs. Players learn to communicate clearly, use smart positioning, and understand when to make a pass or take a shot. These skills help players keep possession and create more chances to score.
Blank also talks about soccer IQ itself, which is about being aware, planning ahead, and reading the game before the ball even comes to you. Smart players constantly ask themselves questions like, “What if the ball goes here?” or “What will my teammate do next?” This awareness allows players to react faster and make better choices under pressure.
The book covers deception, movement, and defense too. For attackers, it explains how to use runs and fakes to confuse defenders. For defenders, it emphasizes positioning, anticipation, and forcing mistakes. Blank also includes tips for handling set pieces, different field conditions, and game situations, helping players adapt to challenges like bad weather or tricky opponents.
One of the best parts of Soccer IQ is that it’s written in a clear, friendly way. Each chapter is short and easy to understand, with practical advice that players and coaches can apply immediately. There are also notes for parents and coaches so everyone involved can help players develop their skills.
Overall, this book is great for teen soccer players who want to improve their game by being smart, not just strong or fast. It’s easy to read, has many useful tips, and helps players think like professional soccer players. If you want to become a better teammate and make better decisions during games, Soccer IQ is the perfect guide to follow.
I could write a whole lot more on this, but I'll keep it somewhat short for you guys. Also, you guys should like my reviews because I spend at least 30 minutes on each one.
September 2, 2025
For this session, I decided to read “Soccer IQ, Things That Smart Players Do” by Dan Blank. I chose this book because I love football and I wanted to learn more about the tactical side of the game. For me, this book is a 5-star rating because it really helped me, and I really enjoyed it. The book not only helped me get better at football but also improved my reading skills as I read this book so fast.
This book really impacted me on my hero’s journey because my dream is to become a really good football player, and this book taught me all I need to know to be at the same level as the great players that exist. Every time I open the book, it is as if I had entered another world, a world full of tactics and passion. I really loved that there was a chapter for each lesson the book taught.
My favorite chapter is called “Scoring Goals,” and a quote that I really liked is “Nothing matters if the ball doesn’t hit the net,” because it taught you all about patience and how everything didn’t matter if your team didn’t score. This really changed me, as I have always thought that having skills and dribbling was having a perfect match, but it really isn’t like that. Having a perfect match means scoring goals and playing as a team.
I believe people who aren't much into sports, especially football, will not enjoy the book as much as people like me who enjoy the game, but besides that, I really recommend the book, and I hope everyone who likes football gets the chance to read this book.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed reading this book and I really learned a lot of things from it, so I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to get to know the tactical side of football.
This book really impacted me on my hero’s journey because my dream is to become a really good football player, and this book taught me all I need to know to be at the same level as the great players that exist. Every time I open the book, it is as if I had entered another world, a world full of tactics and passion. I really loved that there was a chapter for each lesson the book taught.
My favorite chapter is called “Scoring Goals,” and a quote that I really liked is “Nothing matters if the ball doesn’t hit the net,” because it taught you all about patience and how everything didn’t matter if your team didn’t score. This really changed me, as I have always thought that having skills and dribbling was having a perfect match, but it really isn’t like that. Having a perfect match means scoring goals and playing as a team.
I believe people who aren't much into sports, especially football, will not enjoy the book as much as people like me who enjoy the game, but besides that, I really recommend the book, and I hope everyone who likes football gets the chance to read this book.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed reading this book and I really learned a lot of things from it, so I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to get to know the tactical side of football.
December 19, 2019
This book Soccer IQ is a great book for soccer coaches and players or if you're just into soccer. Soccer IQ teaches you about the fundamentals of soccer and tips that will help you in the wonderful game of soccer. This book has several great tips on what can help you play confident and excellent in your soccer game. For coaches this book teaches you the fundamentals and every chapter has a tip for coaches on how to help your players learn these tips and certain drills you can do to help them succeed in there soccer game. If you are looking to learn more about soccer and basics of it and even things you wouldn't think about in a game. Soccer players even the best of the best still need to learn more because sometimes you don't realize things you're doing. That's what coaches are for to so if coaches take the time to read this book and learn from it then they can help each individual player and correct them with the things they do wrong and help them become better soccer players. This book soccer IQ help every player on and off the field. It has tips for every position and soccer player on the field including Goalie, defenders, midfielders, strikers and lastly coaches. This book teaches you the things that the best of the best players do and things that the soccer players do. Soccer IQ is a short great read it doesn't have too many chapters so you can read it in a week at the most so you can also for coaches you could have them read this book too so they can get a great understanding and become better soccer players and also helps you if you want to be in a career in soccer.
January 21, 2018
I played soccer since i could walk and most of the things Coach Blank talks about, are things that most player do or don't da during a game. Most of the time we read to those situation and don't really take a second to ask ourselves why we react that way. It comes as second nature, however I wish I would have read this book when I played in college. It would have helped me and my teammates to understand what we were playing for and to have more insight of how we can get more victories.
I am sure coach Blank did not invented the soccer ball, but he deserves a lot of credit for taking the time to analyze and simplify the things that we take for granted inside the soccer field. I would recommend this book if you are playing high school or college, and even if you don't, but you someone who is, please give them a copy, you will be making they playing career much easier and enjoyable.
It is also really easy to see that coach Blank enjoys to play possession football. He advises the reader to watch Barcelona games to understand how to have possession better, and to see how intelligent player behave in the field, I would only like to add to his advice and recommend to watch Sergio Busquets. To my understanding he is the most intelligent player.
I am sure coach Blank did not invented the soccer ball, but he deserves a lot of credit for taking the time to analyze and simplify the things that we take for granted inside the soccer field. I would recommend this book if you are playing high school or college, and even if you don't, but you someone who is, please give them a copy, you will be making they playing career much easier and enjoyable.
It is also really easy to see that coach Blank enjoys to play possession football. He advises the reader to watch Barcelona games to understand how to have possession better, and to see how intelligent player behave in the field, I would only like to add to his advice and recommend to watch Sergio Busquets. To my understanding he is the most intelligent player.
September 23, 2018
I play for fun 2 or 3 times per week in pickup games through meetup.com and a co-ed 8 vs. 8 league with some friends, but both are usually pretty competitive and it's always more exciting to play well and win! When I started playing regularly again a few months ago I was getting noticeably better each week, but it's starting to be difficult to get much fitter and improve my skills as rapidly nowadays. I had the idea to see if I could use one of my other passions, reading, to give me a boost and ultimately found this book.
It was great and I cruised through it in a couple sittings. Some of the points were very interesting and things I've never really thought about and can try to incorporate into my game. Other points were things that seemed obvious to me from my own experience or watching professionals, but could be extremely helpful to younger players. They were almost all still interesting to think about as a player and to get a successful coaches perspective on why they're important.
We'll see in a few hours if I'm a better player now than I was a few days ago, but regardless I really enjoyed reading this and already ordered the 2nd book on my kindle!
It was great and I cruised through it in a couple sittings. Some of the points were very interesting and things I've never really thought about and can try to incorporate into my game. Other points were things that seemed obvious to me from my own experience or watching professionals, but could be extremely helpful to younger players. They were almost all still interesting to think about as a player and to get a successful coaches perspective on why they're important.
We'll see in a few hours if I'm a better player now than I was a few days ago, but regardless I really enjoyed reading this and already ordered the 2nd book on my kindle!
February 15, 2023
If you don't play soccer but have an fundamental understanding of what it is then this book will upgrade your knowledge to a point where you sound smart when talking to any average person about soccer but in saying that all these concepts are relatively basic compared to the bigger picture.
If you are a player I can't imagine this book genuinely helping you unless you progress from a grass roots level to a slightly higher competitive level. Which isn't a bad thing. For what you pay for, Dan's book could be the kick starter to a very successful career as a player or coach.
Just for what I know about soccer, there is so much nuance and depth to the game that aren't mentioned at all. In saying this that's part of the game, no one can just give you all the answers. It's your job to go and find them yourself. Don't treat Dan's work as the soccer bible. Treat it more as a stepping stone to discovering the many beauties of football.
If you are a player I can't imagine this book genuinely helping you unless you progress from a grass roots level to a slightly higher competitive level. Which isn't a bad thing. For what you pay for, Dan's book could be the kick starter to a very successful career as a player or coach.
Just for what I know about soccer, there is so much nuance and depth to the game that aren't mentioned at all. In saying this that's part of the game, no one can just give you all the answers. It's your job to go and find them yourself. Don't treat Dan's work as the soccer bible. Treat it more as a stepping stone to discovering the many beauties of football.
October 28, 2020
"Soccer IQ" by Dan Blank, is a great book for soccer coaches and players or if you just like soccer. Soccer IQ teaches you about the fundamentals of soccer and tips that will help you in the wonderful game of soccer. This book has several great tips on what you can do to play more confident and smarter in your soccer game. It teaches you how to work harder, not smarter! If you are looking to learn more about soccer and basics of it and even things you wouldn't think about in a game. Soccer IQ can improve every player on and off the field. It has tips for every position and soccer player on the field including Goalie, defenders, midfielders, strikers and even coaches! Overall, this is a super easy read! Though, I wouldn't recommend reading it all in one sitting because you will miss all the small but crucial points in this book!
April 10, 2021
I gave this book 5 stars because I thought it was a very good book for all football players to use, even the experienced ones could learn something from the book. It tells you sneaky tricks and game management plans which will help you win your game some day in the future.
The person who writes this book is called dan blank from L.A. and his perspective of football is a bit different to male players and managers as he teaches a female team. He tells tips for all players and managers on loads of different subjects, as well as getting the point across very clearly. It’s a very good book for people all ages and I think that everyone should read it, as it helps you understand the game much better.
The person who writes this book is called dan blank from L.A. and his perspective of football is a bit different to male players and managers as he teaches a female team. He tells tips for all players and managers on loads of different subjects, as well as getting the point across very clearly. It’s a very good book for people all ages and I think that everyone should read it, as it helps you understand the game much better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2022
I picked this up when looking for a book to give my mom to help her understand what to look for when watching professional soccer -- this is not the book for that. What is a very good book for is youth soccer players and their coaches. The author has coached college soccer for something like twenty years and here lays out around fifty basic but important concepts for players to internalize and execute. He does a nice job of keeping each simple and often tries to tie them to a word or catchphrase to make them sticky. Many of them are common sense, but the kind of common sense that all too often goes missing on the field. Wish I could go back in time and give this to my 13-year-old self! So, not a good gift for soccer spectators, but well worth gifting to youth players and their coaches.
August 15, 2023
this book was a requirement for college soccer this year on my team. Though it has lots of accurate information in it the author goes out of his ways to provide instances in which females do something wrong then provides a men’s game to learn how to do it right. I just found that a little twisted but besides that he also mansplains just about everything making it such a hard read because he’s treating the reader like an idiot rather than someone who is looking to improve their technique. Though yes this book did provide excellent points i feel that it simply isn’t a book i will ever take time to open again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2025
Soccer iQ Vol 1 and 2 are highly readable books written by a college soccer coach that present very practical aspects of the beautiful game in short, easily digestible chapters. Many chapters also include brief notes for coaches, diagrams, and examples of drills that can be used to train. I was quite impressed at how well the brief chapters articulate these key topics and provide a framework to teach to kids playing; much better to learn and practice early on via this book than mess it up for years on end before stumbling onto these pearls through your own experience on the field. Would recommend as a read for anyone playing in the middle/high-school age, and coaches for those age groups.
November 14, 2019
Don't sit through and read this in one sitting, because you'll forget most of the small nuggets of information. It's best read a few chapters at a time, and then head out and play (or coach) and give it time to seep into your game. I coach and Dan has put almost all of the things I'm trying to get my players to think of for themselves in this book in small digestible chapters. I bought it for a whole team of 11-12 year old boys and if each has only 5 things from it sink in, they'll be better players for it.
May 25, 2021
I *really* like this one. It's a series of little nuggets that, while often only offering incremental change, add up to a considerable difference in play. Some of it's insightful, and some of it's a reminder that things we might think of as intuitive actually need to be explicitly taught. It's the sort of book likely to circulate around my house and probably stay handy as a reference, just as a reminder of some small points to work in here and there. I'd recommend it to just about anyone playing or coaching soccer.
May 7, 2022
This is a really useful book for soccer players and coaches. It’s geared to the collegiate level (where Blank has his experience), but I think plenty of its lessons are useful at the high school and youth level, and I’ve seen more than a few professional teams that don’t always heed Blank’s advice. The book is broken up into 1- or 2-page chapters, each focused on one particular skill, trait or idea. As a coach, this is a great format - you could give your whole team one or two of these lessons, or differentiate between different players.
January 18, 2018
This book if for a player, a true soccer player. It can help you out in so many levels of the game, no matter what position it will help you out. Now I don’t like to read that much, but this book is worth your time. If you play soccer or like it you have to read this book. This never fails to teach me and it’s not a boring teach it’s entertaining and fun to read.
April 3, 2018
Great bits of soccer information based on real coaching experience; this is an awesome book for any player or coach. Easy to read and understand, and there are lots of drills and scenarios to offer solutions to common problems. Only reason I didn't give five stars is that it's not complete, but I see there's a second volume. Looking forward to reading his next book!
December 18, 2018
I thought that this book was a great book for people who don’t understand everything about soccer. Like me, I’m not really a soccer player but it did teach me the system of the game. A good thing the author did was including as much information as possible for the game. To be honest, in my opinion, I did not see anything wrong that the author did.
September 16, 2023
Great tips for players
I coach youth league soccer and this book helped me pull a few details I can introduce to my kids at this stage. These tips may seem easy or natural, but it’s a good to see what they are. I plan on incorporating a few of these ideas and videos into our training sessions.
I coach youth league soccer and this book helped me pull a few details I can introduce to my kids at this stage. These tips may seem easy or natural, but it’s a good to see what they are. I plan on incorporating a few of these ideas and videos into our training sessions.
September 11, 2024
Written by a girls college soccer coach, this was a great book to read with my 8th grade son. So glad to read an entire vkkk with “she” pronouns about his favorite sport. I learned a lot, too, even though I have watched/played soccer since I was a kid. Great tips and compelling thoughts. Perfect chapter size for reading one or two chapters an evening to hit a major point home.
November 3, 2017
Simple but effective
If you have played enough fútbol you will have many of these concepts already in your head. However there is a lot of good to be taken from this book whatever your level of playing/coaching.
If you have played enough fútbol you will have many of these concepts already in your head. However there is a lot of good to be taken from this book whatever your level of playing/coaching.
May 30, 2018
Another great book by Dan Blank. Just clear, sensible advice for coaches and players that makes you wonder why you didn't think of it before reading the book. Something in here for coaches and players of every level.
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